Brevard children collect to help vets

Collection boxes with clothes, shoes and other items to help homeless veterans are beginning to fill boxes at Indian Harbour KinderCare Learning Center.

“We’re doing fairly well,” said school director Sheila Elmore. “We are probably going to have a couple of boxes full.”

The collection of towels, bedding, clothing and toiletries is part of Movers for Military, an effort by Two Men and a Truck franchises in Melbourne and 35 other locations around the country that have partnered with local agencies serving homeless veterans. The effort also serves to educate children about veterans, and give them an opportunity to help.

“Last year, we collected over 2,200 items,” said Brenda Vanantwerp, who, with her husband Mark, owns the Two Men and a Truck franchise in Melbourne. “We hope this year to at least match that.”

Movers for Military collected more than 15,000 items nationwide that went to help homeless veterans last year.

“There are veterans in crisis out there and they should be celebrated for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our freedoms,” Vanantwerp said.

The company will pick up the items from three collection locations on Thursday in Brevard and deliver them to Volunteers of America of Florida, which operates Veterans Village of Cocoa, a transitional home for veterans.

“We’re excited and grateful for whatever donations we are going to get,” said Wendy Whitescarver, resource development manager for Volunteers of America of Florida.

The items will get sorted and distributed to those at Veterans Village of Cocoa, an 80-bed complex off Peachtree Street. Volunteers of America of Florida also accepts donation throughout the year.